Founding Fathers: Congress And The Constitution

The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787, saw 55 delegates attend sessions, all considered Framers of the Constitution, though only 39 delegates signed. The convention was initially intended to revise the Articles of Confederation but instead created a new frame of government. The delegates elected George Washington of Virginia, former commanding general of the Continental Army, to serve as president of the convention. The convention debated and ratified the Constitution, making it one of the most significant events in American history.

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The Virginia Plan

The delegates eventually reached a compromise, known as the Connecticut Compromise, which incorporated elements of both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans. This compromise created a House of Representatives apportioned by population and a Senate in which each state is equally represented. The final Constitution, signed by 38 delegates on September 17, 1787, established a federal government with three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress; the executive, consisting of the president and subordinate officers; and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.

Qualifications for senators

The qualifications for senators were established by delegates to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, who set age, citizenship, and inhabitancy requirements for senators. The Constitution states that no person shall be a senator who has not attained the age of thirty years, been a citizen of the United States for nine years, and who is not, when elected, an inhabitant of the state for which they are chosen.

The delegates were influenced by British and state precedents but voted against proposed religion and property requirements. James Madison's Virginia Plan, which set the initial terms of debate, called for a minimum age requirement for service in both the House and Senate but left it to the delegates to define that requirement. The framers were familiar with England's requirement that members of Parliament be 21 or older, and some states had higher age requirements.

The Virginia Plan also proposed that members of Congress "receive liberal stipends" as compensation for their public service, but not all delegates agreed that senators ought to be paid for their service. The rotation of senators and the fact that two-thirds of its members carry over from Congress to Congress established the idea that the Senate is a "continuing body," unlike the House of Representatives, which faces election every two years.

The Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787, was a significant event in American history. Fifty-five delegates attended sessions, all considered Framers of the Constitution, though only 39 delegates signed, and only two delegates, Roger Sherman and Robert Morris, signed all three of the nation's founding documents: the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution. The delegates were appointed by the states, and almost all had taken part in the Revolution, with many having served in the Continental Congress during the Revolution and some having been state governors.

The Constitutional Convention was convened due to concerns about the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, which gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, and couldn't print money. State disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young country apart. The convention debated and ratified the Constitution of the United States, creating a new form of government.

Citizenship requirements

The members of Congress who contributed to the creation of the Constitution of the United States included James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington. These individuals, along with other delegates, played a crucial role in shaping the country's foundational document.

Now, let's focus on the topic of "Citizenship requirements" as per your request:

The Constitution of the United States established specific citizenship requirements for individuals seeking to become members of Congress, particularly the Senate. Article I, Section 3, Clause 3 of the Constitution, outlines the requirements, stating that no person shall be a Senator unless they have been a citizen of the United States for at least nine years. This provision ensured that individuals with a significant duration of citizenship under their belt could represent their respective states in the Senate.

The delegates to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, influenced by British and state precedents, recognized the importance of setting qualifications for senators. They debated and ultimately voted against proposed religion and property requirements, opting for age, citizenship, and inhabitancy qualifications. This decision ensured that senators had a strong connection to the state they represented and could effectively represent their constituents' interests.

The citizenship requirement of nine years was a deliberate choice, reflecting the framers' desire to strike a balance between ensuring sufficient familiarity with the United States and allowing qualified individuals to serve. This timeframe was considered appropriate for individuals to gain a thorough understanding of the nation and its principles, enabling them to contribute effectively to the legislative process as senators.

The Constitution's framers, many of whom had served in the Continental Congress or held positions in the Revolutionary War, understood the complexities of establishing a robust central government. Their decision to set a nine-year citizenship requirement for senators reflected their commitment to building a government that represented the interests of its citizens while also ensuring stability and continuity in the legislative branch.

In conclusion, the citizenship requirements outlined in the Constitution of the United States, specifically the nine-year citizenship clause for senators, played a pivotal role in shaping the country's legislative body. This requirement ensured that senators had a strong connection to the nation and promoted representation that aligned with the ideals of the founding members of Congress.

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Congressional representation

The US Constitution was drafted by 55 delegates of the Constitutional Convention, also known as the "Framers", in 1787. Of these, 39 signed the final document. The majority of the Framers had served in the Confederation Congress, and many had been members of the Continental Congress during the Revolution. Several had been state governors.

The delegates were appointed by the states, and almost all had taken part in the Revolution, with at least 29 having served in the Continental forces, most in positions of command. George Washington of Virginia, former commanding general of the Continental Army, was elected to serve as president of the convention.

The convention was convened due to concerns about the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, which gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn’t regulate commerce, or print money. The states’ disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young country apart.

One of the fiercest arguments during the convention was over congressional representation—whether it should be based on population or divided equally among the states. The framers compromised by giving each state one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. They also agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person.

The convention also established requirements that individuals had to meet in order to become a member of the House and Senate, including age, citizenship, and inhabitancy qualifications.

The Federalists and Anti-Federalists

The drafting of the US Constitution was a long and complex process, with several committees and conventions involved. Two factions emerged during this process: the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.

The Federalists believed in a strong central government and were instrumental in shaping the new US Constitution. They included key figures such as Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and George Washington, who feared that the young nation was on the brink of collapse due to the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which gave the Confederation Congress limited powers. Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay, all members of Congress, published a series of commentaries in support of ratification, now known as The Federalist Papers.

The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, opposed the ratification of the Constitution. They believed that a strong central government would come at the expense of the states and the people's liberties. The Anti-Federalists fought hard against the Constitution, seeing it as reminiscent of the government they had just overthrown in the Revolutionary War. However, they failed to organize efficiently across all thirteen states and had to fight ratification at each state convention.

The drafting process involved several committees and conventions. The Constitutional Convention, which met in Philadelphia in 1787, played a crucial role. After months of fierce debate, a Committee of Detail was appointed to draft a written constitution, and a Committee of Style and Arrangement, including Gouverneur Morris, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison, distilled the final draft from 23 approved articles. The final Constitution, with its seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement, was signed by 38 delegates on September 17, 1787.

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